Introduction and Protective Categorization of Medicinal Plant Species in the Protected Region of Helen in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province

In the present study, the medicinal plant species in Helen protected region, 110 km southwest of Shahrekord, were collected and identified. Plants were sampled following the common method in the regional taxonomic studies and their families, genera, and species were determined using indispensable references. The life form of plant species was determined using Raunkier’s method. The results showed that 392 plant species belonging to 67 families and 267 genera exist in this area, of which 166 species are medicinal and belong to 40 families. Lamiaceae, Compositeae, Papilionaceae and Apiaceae respectively with 36, 21, 16, and 13 species are the most widespread medicinal plant species in the region. Raunkier’s life form indicated that of the 166 medicinal plant species, 82 were hemicryptophytes and 33 were therophytes. Furthermore, the endangered species of the region were identified on the basis of IUCN criteria and Red Data Book of Iran. Accordingly, 27 endangered species were identified, of which 21 were in lower risk (LR) class, two belonged to endangered (EN) class, two species were in vulnerable (VU) class, and two were put in data deficient (DD) class.